Where a licence is granted that licence and any subsequent licence will expire on the 31st December of the year to which the licence relates and must be renewed before that date if the licence holder is to continue to keep the animal(s) named on the licence.

We may at any time revoke or amend any licence condition apart from those covered below:

only the person named on the licence shall be entitled to keep the animal.

the animal shall only be kept on the premises named on the licence.

the animal shall not be moved or may only be moved in accordance with conditions specified in the licence.

the licensee must hold a current insurance policy, approved by us, which insures against liability for damage caused by the animal.

only the species and number of animals listed on the licence may be kept.

the licensee shall make a copy of the licence and its contents available to any other person listed on the licence as being able to look after the animal.

Any person aggrieved by a refusal to be granted a licence or by any conditions to which the licence is subject, may appeal to the Magistrates Court and the Courts may give such direction regarding the licence and its conditions as it thinks proper.

There is an application form available for download or you can contact us for a copy of the application form. The applicant will be required to pay the cost of inspections carried out by our authorised Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary Practitioner.

A licence may be issued providing the applicant is not disqualified or has been convicted under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

Anybody found guilty of keeping an animal covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 without a licence to do so or anybody found guilty of failing to comply with any licence condition shall be subject to a fine not exceeding £2,000.

Any person found guilty of obstructing or delaying an Inspector or Authorised Veterinary Practitioner or Veterinary Surgeon shall be subject to a fine not exceeding £2,000.

Where a person keeps an animal without a licence or where a person fails to comply with a licence condition, our Inspectors may seize the animal and may either retain it or have it destroyed or disposed of (to a zoo or elsewhere) without compensation to the owner.

Where we incur any expense in seizing, retaining or disposing of an animal then the person who was the keeper of the animal shall be liable for those costs.